Fleet Management

Arkansas Best

The parent company to less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight System and ground expedite fleet Panther Expedited Services reported a profit in the final quarter of 2013 after reporting a loss a year earlier.

Less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight System is cutting its number of terminals from 277 to 247. In a “change of operations” filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, ABF parent company Arkansas Best said it had already eliminated eight facilities in the second half of this year, with the rest still yet to close.

Two of the industry's large, unionized less-than-truckload carriers announced their third quarter results Tuesday, with the non-asset-based Panther Expedited helping Arkansas Best and problems at YRC Freight weighing down YRC Worldwide.

Arkansas Best, has reported second quarter 2013 net income but continued to sustain losses for the first six months of the year as costs for salaries, wages and benefits at less-than-truckload carrier subsidiary ABF Freight System, offset improving revenue...

Teamsters Union President James Hoffa Friday had some harsh words for LTL giant YRC Worldwide following news that it tried to purchase competitor Arkansas Best, which owns ABF, calling the move "unconscionable."

The Teamsters Union and the less-than-truckload carrier ABF failed to reach an agreement by the time the most recent labor pact expired at the end of March, but they intend to keep talking, having agreed to a 30-day extension.